Desert Sky Adventures

Rio Del Lago 100 - September 11-12, 2010

Pace Runners

Runners are allowed a pacer starting at the Auburn Dam aid station on the return trip back to the Cavitt School. A pace runner is defined as a "trail companion" who may accompany a runner along designated sections of the trail. Pacers are allowed solely as a safety consideration for fatigued runners. Absolutely no physical or mechanical aid may be given by the pacer to assist the runner over difficult sections of the trail (except in medical emergencies), and no food, fluids or supplies of any kind may be carried for the runner.

Pacers should be experienced trail runners in excellent physical shape and conditioned adequately to run 55.71 miles over rough terrain. The same medical standards that apply to Race entrants also apply to pacers. Most pacing will be done during the dark hours of night and early morning, so pacers should be warmly dressed, used to running with flashlights, and familiar with trail running. Pacers should be adequately supplied with flashlights, food and water. They may accept aid at the checkpoints. Pacers must comply with all Race rules and regulations, including the Performance Rules, Rules for Pacers, Rules for Crews, and all instructions from Race personnel.

Rules for Pace Runners

  1. The pace runner is any individual who accompanies an entrant for any distance greater than 100 yards at one time.
  2. One pacer at a time may accompany each runner along sections of the trail as follows:
    1. Runners age 60 or older may have a pacer for the entire 100-mile distance.
    2. All other runners may be paced from the Auburn Dam Overlook (55.71 miles).
  3. Pacers must be at least 18 years of age. (Specific exceptions may be made in advanced of the Race by the Race Director.)
  4. Each pacer must sign in at pacer central at Cavitt School either on Friday afternoon or Saturday morning. The pacer number will be available on both of these days.
  5. Each pacer must wear the official identifying number that corresponds to the Race number of the entrant he is pacing. The official pacer number must be transferred between pacers if duties for one runner are to be shared.
  6. Each pacer must clearly identify himself when passing through control points. It is extremely important that Race personnel know exactly who is on the trail and where they are.
  7. Only one pacer may accompany a runner at time.
  8. Pacers must stay with their runners at all times, except in the case of an emergency. If the runner withdraws from the Race, and the pacer wishes to continue, he/she must remain at the aid station until another runner enters the aid station and requests the services of a pacer. The pacer may not continue on without an official Race participant.
  9. Changes of pacers may be made at all crew locations in the second half of the race.
  10. Pacers must enter and leave each aid station with their runners. They may assist with the re filling of water bottles or replenishment of supplies while in the station, but may not come into the checkpoint ahead of their runners, or depart after their runners, in order to speed up the re-fueling process.
  11. Pacers may not carry water, food, flashlights, shoes, clothing or other supplies for anyone other than themselves.
  12. No mechanical or physical assistance may be given by the pacer to the runner to help negotiate difficult sections of trail.

Pacer Release Form

Support Crews

We strongly recommend that you bring someone to crew for you. Not only will a crew provide a psychological lift, but having one will ensure that you have the food and drink you prefer and changes of clothing along the way.

In past runs, some support crews have created potentially hazardous conditions for Run participants by interfering with checkpoint procedures and blocking narrow access roads. It is strongly urged, therefore, that runners attempt to "double-up" their crews whenever possible, sharing transportation to the various checkpoints.

Crews should be familiar with all of the rules and regulations of the Run, including the Performance Rules, Rules for Pacers and Rules for Crews. Everyone involved with the Run must willingly comply with all instructions from Race personnel at all points along the trail and its access routes or risk disqualification of their runner.

Rules for Crew

  1. You will have to pay a $4.00 park entrance fee when entering the Rattlesnake Bar aid station. This pass will entitle you to enter and park at any of the checkpoints where a park entrance fee is required.
  2. A crew member is defined as any individual who provides material support to a runner in the event.
  3. Crews may meet runners or assist them only at those aid stations specifically designated for crews. Crews must wait to assist their runners until after the official check-in and medical evaluation (where applicable).
  4. Crews must stay Within 100-yard radius of the aid station while attending to their runner.
  5. It is mandatory that crews use the portable toilets at the various checkpoints rather than relieving themselves in the immediate area of the aid station or on the trails.
  6. On the way out. crews will not be allowed at Twin Rocks and Horseshoe Bar; however, you can visit these two stations on the return trip. The Power Plant aid station will not be accessible to crew members either going out, nor on the return trip.
  7. Crews will be limited to one vehicle per runner at all checkpoints.
  8. Crews must never park in such a way as to block traffic, access to the trail or checkpoint, or other parked cars.
  9. No pets will be allowed at any of the checkpoints, anywhere along the trail.
  10. Violations of any kind by crews, including but not limited to rule violations, disregarding access or parking instructions, or hassling Placer County officials or other Race personnel, will result in disqualification of the crew's runner, or other sanctions.

Driving Instructions for Crewing

Abbreviations: AFR (Auburn-Folsom Road); EDT (estimated Driving Time)

CAVITT SCHOOL TO RATTLESNAKE BAR: Return to AFR. Tum right. Drive 8.2 miles and turn right at Rattlesnake Bar Road. Drive 1.1 miles. Take right fork in road. Drive 0.9 mile to park entrance. Drive 0.2 mile and turn right on dirt road. Drive 0.25 mile to aid station.
EDT - 20 minutes.

RATTLESNAKE BAR TO MAIDU: Return to AFR. Turn right. Drive 3.4 miles. Turn right on Maidu Road. Drive 1.0 mile to aid station.
EDT - 15 minutes.

MAIDU TO AUBURN DAM OVERLOOK: Return to AFR. Turn right. Drive 0.15 mile. Turn right on Sacramento Street (Maidu Market). Drive 0.6 mile. Turn right on Pacific Street. Drive 0.5 mile to horse assembly area.
EDT- 10 minutes.

AUBURN DAM NO HANDS BRIDGE: Return to AFR but do not turn left on Sacramento Street; instead go straight on Pacific Street to AFR. Turn right. Drive 0.5 mile and turn right on High Street. Continue on High Street through downtown Auburn. Drive 1.0 mile and follow signs that read Highway 49. Cross intersection indicating Highway 49 and proceed down steep, winding road for 2.3 miles. Turn right and cross 49 bridge and park on side of road or drive up hill for 0.2 mile and park in parking lot on left side of highway. Walk approximately 0.50 mile to aid station.
EDT- 20 to 25 minutes.

NO HANDS BRIDGE TO COOL FIRE STATION: Continue to drive up Highway 49 to Cool. This is a very steep winding road so proceed with caution. Drive 3.4 miles. The fire station is on the right. Retum to No Hands Bridge, Auburn Dam Overlook, Maidu, and Rattlesnake Bar, using the same instructions only in reverse.
EDT - 8 minutes.

RATTLESNAKE BAR TO HORSESHOE BAR: Retum to AFR. Turn left. Drive 2.3 miles. Turn left. Drive 1.0 mile to end of road.
EDT - 10 minutes.

HORSESHOE BAR TO TWIN ROCKS: Return to AFR. Turn left. Drive 3.6 miles. Turn left. Drive 0.7 miles and park at Boulder Road.
EDT - 9 minutes.

TWIN ROCKS TO CAVTT SCHOOL: Retum to AFR. Turn left. Drive 2.3 miles and turn left on Fuller Drive. Return to school.
EDT- 5 minutes.

CAVTT SCHOOL TO FOLSOM DAM: Retum to AFR. Turn left. Drive 2.5 miles. Turn left on Folsom Dam Road. Park in parking lot.
EDT - 5 minutes.

FOLSOM DAM TO NEGRO BAR: Retum to AFR. Turn left. Drive 1.5 miles. Turn right on Greenback Lane. Drive 0.3 miles and carefully turn left (crossing traffic) at entrance to Negro Bar. Drive past kiosk (toll booth), and turn at first right in parking lot. Take winding road 0.5 mile to picnic area and aid station.
EDT- 5 minutes.

NEGRO BAR TO HAZEL BLUFF AND AMERICAN RIVER OVERLOOK: Return to Greenback Lane. Carefully turn left. Drive 0.7 mile, and do not take the right fork on Greenback Lane, but continue straight ahead as Greenback becomes Madison. Follow Madison for 2.0 miles. Turn left on Hazel. Drive 1.7 miles and carefully tum left (just prior to American River Bridge). Drive up road into parking lot.
EDT- 10 minutes.

HAZEL BLUFF AND AMERICAN RIVER OVERLOOK TO MOUNTAIN LION KNOLL: When leaving the parking lot, turn right for 100 yards. Turn left at the first corner (Curraugh Downs Drive). Enter the subdivision and do a U-turn. Come back onto Hazel Boulevard. Go 0.9 miles (crossing American River Bridge) and take the Highway 50 East on-ramp. Stay in the right lane and go 0.9 mile and take the Folsom Boulevard exit. Turn left on Folsom Boulevard. Go 2.70 miles and take the right fork in the road. (Do not go under the underpass and across the bridge.) Go 0.3 miles and turn right. Make an immediate left turn into the parking lot for the Lake Natoma Inn (Courtyard Cafe, Chevy's, etc.) Circle around (1/4 mile) to the far end ot the parking lot. Park near the stairs that lead to the trail and the Mountain Lion sign. Walk down the stairs, turn left and walk 150 feet to the aid station.
EDT - 10 minutes.

MOUNTAIN LION KNOLL TO HAZEL BLUFF: Turn right when you exit the parking lot and take an immediate left onto Folsom Boulevard. Return to Highway 50 West and exit on Hazel Boulevard North. Drive to parking lot of Hazel Bluff aid station.
EDT - 10 minutes.

Return to previous aid stations and finish line at Cavitt School using the same instructions.